taps

tap the admiral

To drink directly (and secretly) from a cask, as if by a straw and gimlet. The phrase refers to British admiral Horatio Nelson, whose corpse was transported to England in a liquor-filled cask that is said to have arrived empty of liquor. Someone must have tapped the admiral because we are out of liquor already!

tap (one) for (something)

To select someone for some particular opportunity, especially to take up a specific role, position, or purpose. Often used in passive constructions. The decorated general has been tapped by the president for the position of Secretary of State.I can't believe the boss tapped me for the big promotion!

tap into (something)

To access some large, abundant, or powerful resource. The man was found guilty for illegally tapping into the city's electrical grid without paying.The new film taps into the nostalgia of fans who grew up with the franchise when they were kids.

tap out

1. To remove something from a container by tapping it against one's hand or some other surface. A noun or pronoun can be used between "tap" and "out." She tapped a bit of powdered sugar out of the bag.Make sure to tap out the ashes before you load the pipe with fresh tobacco.

2. To empty a container by tapping it against one's hand or some other surface. A noun or pronoun can be used between "tap" and "out." He began tapping the cup out over the garden to get all the worms out and into the soil.He sat tapping out his pipe as he stared into the fire.

3. To create something by making tapping noises. He tapped out a beat for me to play the tune to on my guitar.I realized that he was tapping out a message in Morse code.

4. In a combat sport, such as wrestling, judo, or mixed martial arts, to indicate one's submission to one's opponent by tapping on the mat. Moving like lightning, the fighter got her opponent in a chokehold in the first couple minutes of the match, causing her to tap out almost immediately.Many people suspected that he had thrown the match judging by how quickly he tapped out.

5. To deplete the resources of someone, something, or oneself. A noun or pronoun can be used between "tap" and "out." Often used in passive constructions. The freak snow storm quickly tapped out the city's meager supply of salt used to keep the roads free of ice.That unlucky streak at the blackjack table tapped me out.

tap out

1. To produce something with a succession of light taps: She tapped out a rhythm with her pencil. The captain tapped out a distress signal in Morse code. I tapped the letter out on my computer.

2. To submit in a fight, wrestling match, or other contest by tapping the ground with the hand: Unable to free himself from the choke hold, the wrestler tapped out.

3. Baseball To hit the ball weakly so that one is put out at first base: The batter tapped out, and the inning was over. The hitter tapped out with a ground ball to third base.

4. To deplete some resource or the resources of someone or something: The hurricane tapped out the city's emergency funds. The medical expenses tapped us out. The housing market is tapped out now that so many new houses have been built.

I laughed and pulled as her mouth slid up and down and up and down which eventually made me feel the need to screech except this time the long noodle dangling down my throat felt even longer and more maddening and suddenly I wanted to screech and tap and hit and break and rip things all at once.

In a 1999 report, the NRDC concludes that bottled water quality is probably not inferior to average tap water, but Olson (the report's principal author) says that gaps in the weak regulatory framework may allow careless or unscrupulous bottlers to market substandard products.

BATH and basin taps are essential to any bathroom, but their beauty doesn't stop at function; they can also be a design statement in their own right because there are lots of things to consider when buying bathroom taps, but the style is paramount.

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